A timeline of events leading up to 16 December 2019, when drivers of commercial motor vehicles and for-hire private motor carriers will be required to have installed and be using an FMCSA-compliant Electronic Logging Device (ELD).

ELDs fitted by MiX Telematics as part of our Hours of Service solution are registered with the FMCSA and fully compliant with their specifications in terms of performance, design and technical specifications.

Can I trust self-certified ELDs?

The clock is ticking away as the deadline for the FMCSA’s ELD Mandate inches closer. Fleet managers and drivers are being urged to get their ducks in a row and pick an electronic logging device (ELD).

But choosing a system, and installing and implementing one, isn’t as straightforward as one might hope. In the last week of July 2016, there were just six registered devices – and all of these are self-certified ELDs – which means they may or may not end up being fully compliant with the FMCSA’s requirements.

One thing everyone is clear on is that businesses should not wait until the last minute to select and start using ELDs. So how trustworthy is the ELD self-certification process? And how do you pick the right one for your fleet?

Until the FMCSA takes over the certification and registration process, the onus is on the buyers to make sure the devices they buy are indeed fully compliant with the ELD mandate. From February 2016, ELD manufacturers have been able to register and self-certify their products as meeting the ELD mandate requirements and there are only a handful of devices listed. Before committing to buying a particular device, find out what will be required to make it fully compliant, as well as how much this will cost and how such a change will be rolled out.

All they had to do was register a user account with the FMCSA, register their ELD, provide certain pieces of required information and confirm that the device meets the specifications set out in the mandate. The FMCSA will only investigate a device if they receive a complaint about it.

Many of the biggest ELD vendors aren’t registered yet – they are still getting the miniscule details right, dotting their i's and crossing their t's. These manufacturers are still poring through the lengthy new mandate to be certain their devices do precisely what they'll be required to do. They are also waiting for some other vital details to be confirmed. For example, the FMCSA hasn’t released access to its Electronic Record of Duty Status (ERODS) system that determines federal Hours of Service compliance. Another detail that is yet to be released is the website services address or URL to which ELDs must send information in one of the four mandated data-transfer methods.

Experts are hoping for all these challenges to be resolved by the end of this year or early 2017. This doesn’t mean you have to hold off on other elements of compliance – driver and dispatcher training can still be started, for instance. Fleet managers can also opt for an ELD-ready platform with software that can simply be updated once all the facts are known. Fleets using devices that meet the FMCSA’s existing AOBRD requirements have until 2019 to upgrade to ELD-compliant products.

What is the ELD Mandate?

Also known as the ELD Final Rule, the ELD Mandate was instituted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in December 2015 and requires commercial motor vehicle drivers to track their Record of Duty Status electronically, using compliant ELDs versus paper logbooks.

What is an Electronic Logging Device (ELD)?

An Electronic Logging Device, or ELD for short, is a device designed to automatically record a driver’s driving time and other aspects relating to Hours of Service (HOS) compliance. The device does this by monitoring a vehicle’s engine and traveling time.

How is an ELD different to an AOBRD (Automatic On Board Recording Device)?

While an Automatic On Board Recording Device (AOBRD) also records the amount of time a vehicle is being driven, an ELD must be certified and registered with the FMCSA. Each ELD model will have a unique registration number that can be found on its display or printout.

What are the benefits of ELDs?

Most notably, ELDs allow for the recording of more accurate driving hours. They also negate the need for manual paper log entries, which can result in unintentional Hours of Service (HOS) violations. By improving compliance with HOS rules, drivers have more time to rest and are more likely to operate their vehicles in a safe and efficient way. Furthermore, accurate HOS records can boost fleet efficiency and utilization, as they facilitate streamlined business operations like effective dispatching.

When does the ELD Mandate come into effect?

The ELD Mandate was published in December 2015, and started coming into effect in February 2016 with the rolling out of Phase 1, being the early adoption of ELDs.

What’s the final deadline to comply with the ELD Mandate?

By 16 December 2019, all commercial motor vehicles must have a certified, registered ELD installed that complies with the ELD Mandate.

Does the ELD Mandate apply to me?

If your drivers operate commercial motor vehicles or CMVs, and are currently required to track their Record of Duty Status for Hours of Service (HOS) compliance, then yes.

What is classified as a commercial motor vehicle, or CMV?

CMVs are classified as vehicles that are used for business purposes or interstate commerce and meet at least one of the following criteria: weigh more than 10,000 pounds, have a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds, transport 16 or more passengers not for compensation or nine or more passengers for compensation, or transport hazardous materials in a quantity requiring placards.

Can I install any old ELD?

No. ELD manufacturers are required to certify that their ELDs meet technical standards in the ELD rule. Only those ELDs may be installed.